Fluid pump assembly



Dec. 1, 1953 Filed Aug. 6, 1949 FIG.1.

W. H. TINKER ET AL FLUID PUMP ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS HENRY C. WEBER BY WALTER H. TINKER ATTORNEY Dec. 1, 1953 w. H. TINKER ET AL 2,660,953

FLUID PUMP ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 6, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS HENRY G. WEBER 7/ y 9 BY WALTER H. TINKER FIG. 6. M 04 /& 44/

ATTO R N EY Dec. 1, 1953 w. H. TlNKER ETAL FLUID PUMP ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 6, 1949 INVENTORS HENRY C. WEBER TER H. TINKER ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 1, 1953 FLUID PUMP ASSEMBLY Walter H. Tinker and Henry G. Weber, St. Louis,

Mo., assignors to Fairbanks, Morse & 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 6, 1949, Serial No. 109,048

10 Claims.

This invention relates to fluid pump assemblies of the jet pump-pressure pump character for use in connection with shallow well and deep well pumping operations, wherein the jet pump may be alternately located remote from or within the pressure pump.

The essence of the invention resides in the improved design and construction of a pressure pump housing capable of permitting the association of a jet pump within or remote from the housing for shallow Well or deep well pumping operations, and in the further improvement of a compact and inexpensive housing having an arrangement of chambers, passages and ports which will permit disposing the housing in either an over-the-well or an ofi-the-well relation.

The invention also includes the provision of improved control means for regulating the delivery of pumped fluid to a storagetank in a predetermined relation with the requirements for supply of pressure fluid to the jet pump, such control means taking the form of a valve assembly disposed between suction and. pressure zones of the pressure pump so as to be responsive to the differential of pressures in such zones for more positive action.

Other important features of the present improvements will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, when taken with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational assembly view, partly in section, showing the pumps arranged in an over-the-well installation;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the pressure pump structure showing certain details thereof as taken at line 2--2 in-Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the pressure pump structure showing a preferred compartmentation therefor and also indicating the interchangeability of the fluid connections for the jet pump, this view being taken at line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view somewhat similar to that in Fig. 3, but illustrating the conversion of the structure to receive the jet pump in the pressure pump housing;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged and fragmentary sectional view of a valve assembly which is a modification of the valve shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a further modification of a valve assembly for use in place of the valve shown in Fig. 3, this view being an enlarged sectional detail.

Proceeding to a detailed understanding of the present improvements reference will be made first to Figs. 1 and 2. The deep well pumping assembly comprises a pressure pump unit I0 having its fluid impeller I I suitably connected to a driving motor I2, and a jet pump unit I3 adapted for connection to the unit I0 in a manner to be described. The pumping assembly delivers fluid to a suitable storage tank I4, a portion of such tank being shown inFig. 2. The operation of motor I2 is controlled by a switch device I5 of the pressure responsive type, so set as to start and stop the motor I2 in accordance with predetermined desired low and high pressure conditions obtaining in the tank I4. Switch I5 is per se, of the usual type available to the trade and will not be shown or described in detail, other than by reference to its function in the present situation.

Reference will now be made to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 for an understanding of the pump unit I 0. This unit I0 comprises a base casting or casing I6 having bottom wall I'I, side wall I8 anda top wall I9, all of which enclose the casing and cooperate with internal walls, as shown in Fig. 3, to provide a suction chamber 20, a discharge chamber 2 I, a pair of auxiliary discharge chambers 22 and 23, and a passage 24. More specifically, the side wall I8 of the casing is formed with a boss 25 having an inlet port 28 for the suction chamber 20, a boss 21 having an outlet port 28 for auxiliary chamber 22, a boss 29 having-an opening or outlet port 30 for dischargechamber M, and an outlet port 3| for the passage 24. The bottom wall I! of this casing is provided with an inlet port 32 for Sue-- tion chamber 20 and'an outlet port 33 for auxiliary chamber 23 (see Figs. 1 and 3). I The passage 24 in casing I6 is defined by the spaced walls 34 and 35 in which are provided the aligned open-- ings 36 and 31 respectively.

An upper or top casting or casing'38 isr'emovably secured over the Wall I9 of the base cas'-' ing I6 to enclose the same and provide a chamber 39 (Fig. 1). The central area of wall I9 is suitably formed to provide an impeller bowl 40 in conjunction with a diffuser ring member II carried on the wall I 9 and retained in position concentric with the port 42 by the top casing 38. The port- 42 is the outlet opening for suction chamber 20 and is axially above the bottom inlet port 32. The pump impeller I I operates in diffuse memberfil with its suction eye 43 in the port 42 and its several discharge passages 44 (Fig. 2) open to outwardly expanded discharge passages 45 in the diffuser 4 I.

It should be noted that the operating clearance between the impeller I I and its bowl 40, and the concentricity of the diffuser 4|, impeller II and bowl suction port 42 are nicely obtained by the carefully machined ring extension 46 on the casing 33 and the interfitted flange 41 on the diffuser 4|. A bracket section 48 integrally formed as a part of the ring extension 46 and top casing 38 supports motor 12 and carries the motor shaft bearing and seal 49.

In Figs. 1 and 2, it may be seen that the top wall E9 of the base casing [6 forms the floor for the chamber 39 in the top casing 38. Accordingly, this wall I9 is provided with spaced openings 5|, 52 and 53 communicating respectively with the discharge chamber 2|, auxiliary chamber 22 and auxiliary chamber 23, so that fluid discharged:

to chamber 39 by the impeller l I flows to each of the said chambers in the bottom, casing l6.

As shown in Fig. l, the jet'pump I3 includes a fitting 54 having the usual foot valve device 55.

for admission of fluid from the well or other source. The fitting Etprovides an elbow passage '56 to receive fiuidunder pressure from conduit 51 and direct the same to-thenozzle 58. The fluid delivery from fitting occurs, in the Venturi tube 59 which is aligned with the nozzle 58- to develop a suction in the chamber 60 with which the foot valve 55 is connected in the usual manner. Pressure conduit 51 is connected into the outlet port 33 at auxiliary discharge chamber 23, and the Venturi tube 59, through conduit Bl, connects at inlet port 32 for the suction chamber 20.

When connected in this manner for deep well use the pump unit I!) is adapted for mounting in an on-the-well (Figs. 1 and 2) location, with the jet pump located directly below it in the well. The use of the bottom ports 32 and 33 necessitates the provision of plug meansfor closing the side wall ports 26 and 28. Thus plug means 62 and 63 (Fig. 2) are insertedat these ports respectively. An alternate arrangement for an ofi-thewell positionment of the pump unit I is shown in Fig. 3, wherein a suitable extension conduit 51' of conduit is connected at port 28, and a conduit extension 6'! of, conduit 6-] is connected at port 26'. The plug means 62 and 63 must first be removed from-.thelocation of Fig. 2 and placed respectively in the bottom ports 32 and 33 (Fig. 3).

For deep well operation, just. above mentioned, the passage 24 becomes the-fluid delivery for-connection. to tank M. This is: accomplished by connecting the; tank supply conduit assembly 64 at outlet port. 31 ofpassage. (Figs. 2 and- 3). There is also provided a. dischargepressure regu lating valve assembly positionedin the: aligned openings 36 and 3.! across passage 24, so that a supply of fluid at the desiredpressuremay be assured for maintaining operation of the jet pump l3. The jet pump energy fluid, will be taken selectively from the auxiliary discharge chambers 22 and 23, and: the remainder'of the fluid pumped by impeller H will go to discharge chamber 2| for delivery to tank [4 through passage 24, provided the pressure is sufllcient to open the valve.

A preferred valve assembly (Fig. 3) includes a valve seat element 65 threaded into port 36, a valve guide element 56 threaded into port 31, a valve element 6'! of hollow piston type slidably movable in theguide with its closedend seating against the element 65,- and spring means 68 caged between the valve and its guideto urge the valve against its seat in opposition to the pressure'of fluid in chamber. 21-. It has been found that substantially all of the valve chatter and vibration efiects produced in the valve and spring, due to pump pressure variations, can be nicely eliminated by communicating the rear side of the valve 61 with the suction chamber 20 through passage 69 in the base of the guide 66. The resulting pressure diiierential across the valve 6T eliminates destructive valve chatter and stabilizes valve motion, without materially changing the desired load characteristic of the spring means 68.

The insertion of the valve assembly is made at port 30 in chamber 2|, and this port is then closed by plug-means comprising an adapter 19 and plug 1 I threaded into the port 38, as shown.

When applied in connection with deep well service, thepumpassembly has its control switch l5 connected by a suitable conduit '12, a portion of which conduit is shown in Fig. 1, into the adapter element 73 located at the port M opening to passage 24 adjacent its outlet port 3! The conduit 12 and adapter '13 are indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

Forv use in connection with shallow well service, the pump assembly is easilyconverted to the internal mounting of a jet pump, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4. In this showing, the passage 24 becomes an inlet for receiving fluid from the conduit l5 and directing such fluid into the suction zone of the jet pump. The jet pump comprises a nozzle I6 threaded into wall opening 35 and a Venturi tube 11 threaded into the aligned wall opening 3'! with its inlet end spaced from the nozzle and its outlet end open to suction chamber 20. The previously described alternate ports for the jet pump l3, and associated with the suction and auxiliary pressure chambers 2|], 22 and 23, respectively, are now all closed by the use of the'before mentioned plug means 62 and 63 and two additional plug means 62' and 63'. The plug means 63 and 63, now render the auxiliary discharge chambers 22 and 23 of no further use, and plug means 62 and (52 close the suction chamber 20 to the; inlet of fluid, except by way of the Venturi'tube 11. The closure of the auxiliary discharge chambers 22 and 23 now forces all of the fluid delivered to chamber 39 in the top casing 38to'flow through port 5! to discharge chamber 2!.

The fluid received-1 at chamber 25 is divided therein, part flowing through'the nozzle It to energize the jet pump, and part flowing to a conduit assembly 78' connected to tank ill in place of the before described conduitassembly 5 1. In effecting. the latter connection, the plug means H is; removed from the adapter 10 and a suitable nipple or other conduit part is mounted therein. Since. chamber 21 now reflects tank pressure condition, instead of passage 24, the conduit 72" leading from pressure switch !5 (Fig. l) is removed from port" andconnected into a similar port 19 located in the upper surface of the boss 29 forming part of chamber iii. A plug 80 utilized to close port '19 under the before mentioned conditions; shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is

nowinserted in port M to'close the latter.

In Fig. 5, there is shown a modified valve as sembly of the type first described in connection with Fig. 3. The modification includes the formation of an annular groove 8! near the open end of the-valve-guidefifi, and the provision of a slight clearance spaceBZoutwardly of the groove. A suitable seal element, as the Oering packing element 83, is. placed in thegroove so that leakage past the valve may be prevented. The pack ing element 83 also acts to reduce the accumulation of abrasive matter between the valve and guide to the end that the close sliding fit therebetween and beyond the packing may be preserved for a longer time. In other respects, the valve of Fig. 5 performs similarly to that valve shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 illustrates an adjustable type of spring valve, and for certain pump installations is to be preferred over either valve of Figs. 3 and 5. The adjustable valve comprises a guide 85 in port 31, and a valve 86 in the guide for opening a port in the seat element 81. The valve has an elongate stem 88 projecting into chamber 2! for sliding movement in a stem guide 89. The stem guide threadedly mounts in port 39 of the chamber 2| and forms an abutment for one end of a valve closure spring 90 on the stem 88. The opposite end of the spring engages adjustment element 9| threaded on the outer end portion of the stem, and a clamp element 92 secures element 9|. The chamber 2| is closed by a removable cap 93 threadedlymounted in the end portion of the stem guide 89, removal of the cap exposing the adjustment elements 9! and 92 for convenient access. The function of this adjustable valve is similar to that of the before described valve assemblies.

The structure and operation of the above described pump assembly and its components is believed to be fully understandable, but it is expected that certain modifications or changes thereof will come within the scope of the claims, next to appear.

We claim:

1. A fluid pump assembly, comprising a pressure pump including a base casting formed to provide a suction chamber having a bottom and a side port, a main discharge chamber having a lateral port through which fluid is discharged, and auxiliary discharge chambers one having a bottom port and another having a side port, the bottom and side ports for said auxiliary chambers being adjacent the respective bottom and side ports of said suction chamber, said pressure pump further including an impeller discharge chamber and an impeller arranged therein to receive fluid from said suction chamber and expel the fluid into the impeller discharge chamber, each of said auxiliary discharge chambers and said main discharge chamber being in fluid-receiving communication with said impeller discharge chamber, a tank to which said main discharge chamber is connected, a jet pump having a supply conduit and a return conduit for connection respectively into said adjacent side ports for an off-the-well mounting of said pressure pump and for connection into said adjacent bottom ports for an over-the-well mounting of said pressure pump, and plug means selectively and interchangeably fitting said side and bottom ports in said base casting.

2. A fluid pump assembly as defined in claim 1, and further comprising spring pressed valve means operably disposed in said base casting, one side of said valve means being exposed to the pressure of fluid in said main discharge chamber and the opposite side of said valve means being exposed to the pressure of fluid delivered by said jet pump, said valve means operating to release fluid from said main discharge chamber for flow to said tank at a predetermined pressure.

3. A fluid pump assembly, comprising a pressure pump including a base casting formed to 6. provide a suction chamber having a bottom and a side port, a main discharge chamber having a lateral port, and auxiliary discharge chambers one having a bottom port and another having a side port, the bottom and side ports for said auxiliary chambers being adjacent the respective bottom and side ports of said suction chamber, a chambered member mounted on said base casting to define an impeller bowl therewith, said member being in fluid communication with each of saiddischarge chambers, a tank to which said main discharge chamber is connected, a jet pump positionable in a well and connected with said base casting selectively at said bottom ports and said side ports respectively for an over-the-well and an ofi-the-well mounting of said base cast ing, plug means selectively disposable in said bottom and side ports, and an impeller in said bowl for drawing fluid from said suction chamber and discharge the same to said discharge chambers, a portion of the fluid continuously flowing to said jet pump for energizing the latter and a portion flowing to said tank.

4. A fluid pump assembly as defined in claim 3, and including valve means disposed in said base casting between said suction and discharge chambers for controlling the flow of fluid to said tank, and spring means urging said valve in closing direction to determine the pressure at which fluid is discharged from said chamber for flow to said tank.

5. In combination with a pump: a casing providing a suction chamber having two spaced inlet ports and an outlet opening, a main discharge chamber and a pair of auxiliary discharge chambers, said auxiliary discharge chambers being disposed on one side of said suction chamber and said main discharge chamber being disposed on the opposite side of the suction chamber, the auxiliary discharge chambers each having an outlet port, a passage defined by spaced walls having a pair of aligned openings therein and a port spaced from said latter openings, one of said aligned openings being in communication with said suction chamber, and a wall overlying said chambers and passage and providing an opening for said main discharge chamber and auxiliary discharge chambers; and plug means selectively positionable in certain of said inlet and outlet ports.

6, In combination with a pump: a bottom casing providing a suction chamber having two spaced inlet ports and an outlet opening, a main discharge chamber and a pair of auxiliary discharge chambers, said auxiliary discharge chambers being disposed onone side of said suction chamber and said main discharge chamber being disposed on the opposite side of the suction chamber, the auxiliary discharge chambers each having an outlet port, a passage defined by spaced walls having aligned openings therein and a port spaced from said latter openings, one of said aligned openings being in communication with said suction chamber, and a wall overlying said chambers and passage and provided with an opening for each of said discharge chambers; a top casing enclosing said wall and formed to provide a chamber communicating with each of said discharge chambers through said wall openings; and plug means selectively positionable in certain of said inlet and outlet ports.

7. The combination defined in claim 6, and further including means positioned on said overlying wall and retained by said top casing to enclose said suction chamber outlet opening and constitute with said wall a .bowl, and an impeller in said bowl. 1 i

8. In combination with a pump, a pump casing providing a suction chamber, a discharge chamber spaced from the suction chamber and a passage between said chambers, said chambers being provided with aligned openings across said passage, a valve seat in said discharge chamber opening, a valve guide in said suction chamber opening and having a passage open to said suction chamber, a valve element slidably mounted in said guide to abut said valve seat and close off said discharge chamber, and spring means adapted to urge said valve element in a closing direction against the pressure of fluid in said discharge chamber acting on one side of said valve element and the pressure effects from said suction cham ber communicated to the opposite side of said valve element through said valve guide passage.

9. The combination defined in claim 8, and including a stem on said valve element, stem guide means mounted in said discharge chamber to receive said stem and position said spring, means adjustably connecting said stem and spring means, and a removable closure element for said chamber to permit access to said adjustable means for varying the spring force on said valve element.

10. The combination with a pump; a casing having an outlet port and providing a suction chamber having an inlet port and an outlet opening for the passage of fluid therethrough, a discharge chamber for receiving fluid under pressure, and a passage between said suction and discharge. chambers having aligned openings communicating with. said chamber: and said outlet port, said passage being adapted to receive fluid from said discharge chamber for flow through said outlet port; valve means disposed in said aligned openings for controlling the flow of. fluid from said discharge chamber to said passage, said valve means including a valve element, a guide for said valve element and spring means urging said valve element in a closing direction against the pressure of fluid in said discharge chamber, said guide providing an opening for communicating suction pressure effects in said suction chamber to said valve element, said valve element having a stem projecting into said discharge chamber, a second guide member slidably receiving said stem, and means on said stem for adjusting the tension of said spring means to vary the force thereof urging said valve in its closing direction.

WALTER H. TINKER. HENRY C. WEBER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,124,681 Jauch et a1 July 26, 1938 2,440,912 Parker May 4, 1948 2,470,563 Jennings May 1'7, 1949 2,474,539 Mann June 28, 1949 2,479,969 Schl'eyer Aug. 23, 1949 2,480,435 Aspelin Aug. 30, 1949 2,486,288 Jacuzzi et a1 Oct. 25, 1949 

